Next Gen Farmer: Corey Chicoine Is Farming for the 12th Generation

When most people think about the future, they think a few years ahead. For Next Gen Farmer Corey Chicoine, the future looks much different.

"I'm not thinking about my kids. I'm thinking about the 12th generation."

That mindset shapes every decision he makes on his South Dakota family farm near Elk Point, where he works alongside his dad raising corn, soybeans, sheep and hay. While each growing season brings new opportunities and challenges, Corey is focused on something

Coming Home with a New Perspective

Returning to the family farm was always part of Corey's plan, but before coming home, he spent several years working in the seed industry as a district sales manager. Traveling across much of South Dakota gave him a unique perspective on agriculture and the many decisions farmers make every day.

"Learning how to sit on the other side of the table from the farmer who's asking—or sometimes demanding—things taught me an invaluable number of lessons."

Managing relationships, balancing time on the road and working with producers across the state gave Corey experiences he still relies on today.

When the opportunity came to become a partner in his local Pioneer seed agency, the timing was right. It allowed him to return to the South Dakota family farm sooner than expected and begin working alongside his dad as they gradually transition responsibilities.

Learning from the Generation Before Him

Every family farm eventually reaches a point where one generation begins passing knowledge to the next. For Corey, that transition has been built on trust, patience and the willingness to learn from one another.

"I'm just incredibly blessed. I get along very well with my father."

His dad has encouraged him to bring new ideas to the operation while giving him the freedom to learn through experience.

"He allows me to fail and allows me to try things, even if he's already tried them."

Rather than expecting Corey to do everything exactly the same way, they've built a partnership where experience and fresh perspectives come together. Today, many of their decisions happen through conversations, combining decades of knowledge with new ways of thinking about modern agriculture.

Lessons That Go Beyond Farming

The most valuable lessons Corey has learned have come from watching his dad. Growing up, Corey saw firsthand what it looked like to put people first.

"One of the greatest gifts you can give someone is your time."

Whether it meant stopping work to help someone or setting aside his own plans for family, Corey's dad showed him that relationships matter just as much as the work itself. Now raising children of his own, Corey hopes to pass that lesson along. He's also learned the importance of patience.

In farming, equipment breaks. Weather changes. Plans shift. Instead of dwelling on what went wrong, his dad always focused on the next step.

"Stuff's gonna go wrong. How do we fix it? How do we move on from there?"

It's a mindset that serves every farmer well because agriculture is full of things that can't be controlled.

Growing Up on the Farm

Some of Corey's favorite memories happened during ordinary days on the farm. He remembers riding with his grandfather on the loader tractor, exploring the farm with his sisters in a golf cart and spending countless hours outdoors learning simply by being there.

Those moments created more than childhood memories. They built an appreciation for the generations who cared for the land before him and the responsibility that comes with continuing that legacy. It's one of the reasons he's so passionate about preserving the future of his farm.

Looking Beyond the Next Harvest

Being a Next Generation Farmer comes with responsibility. There's always the question of how to honor the generations before you while preparing the operation for those who may come next. For Corey, the answer isn't found in worrying about the pressure. It's found in making thoughtful decisions every day.

"Just trying to do right by the land, by the generations that have come before us, and then do right for the future."

Whether it's caring for the land, investing in the operation or learning from those who came before him, Corey believes every decision contributes to something bigger than one harvest. In Corey’s eyes, success isn't measured only by this year's crop.

It's measured by whether someone from the 12th generation will one day have the opportunity to return to the same family farm, care for the same land and continue the story that's been growing for generations.

That's the future Corey is working toward.